Enter our storytelling competition to celebrate the new addition to 'The Gruffalo' family

Inspired by the idea of sharing stories through the generations, the importance of a book at bedtime, and mouse telling tales whilst The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child wait for Gruffalo Granny to come to tea, we’d like children to share their short story with us.

Their creative tale can be about absolutely anything!

Help your child to get started by sharing the below:

Perhaps you could write about something that has happened to you, something you'd like to happen, your favourite place, a special person, or even a beloved pet. You could also let your imagination run wild and create a fantasy world filled with magical creatures, exciting adventures, and unexpected surprises. There are no limits, so be creative, have fun, and let your story lead the way.

Choose from the following themes to inspire you and help get you started:

• a story I was told
• a story I will tell
• a story we tell together

And think about who you'd love to share it with.

Visit the original 'The Gruffalo' trail at Thorndon Country Park to spark your imaginations as you discover the much-loved characters hiding in the 'deep, dark woods'.

Maybe you'd like to 'walk and talk'? You don't have to be sat behind a desk to write. Your child could tell you a story as they walk through the spooky woodland, round a mysterious lake or an enchanting building. What stories might be hidden behind closed doors? What creatures may be lurking in the forest?

Any primary school aged child can enter this competition.

Please ensure you know which category you are entering your child into:

• 5 to 7-years-old
• 8 to 11-years-old

Both categories will be asked to submit a maximum of 500 words.

Entries can be written or read out loud.

If submitting an audio or video file of your child telling their story,

please also send in the written file (which can be typed by you as the entering adult on behalf of the child).

When you and your child are ready, simply email the entry to: Explore.Essex@essex.gov.uk

Title your email: Story comp

Entries can be written, audio or video (with the child telling their story).

If you are sending in an audio or video file, please also send in a typed file of the story written down.

Strictly only one entry per child.

Please include in the email:

• The title of the story.
• The story – not to exceed the word count.
• The inspiration in three words. This might be a person, or a book or a place . . .
• A sentence to tell us how you have supported your child with their story.

Closing date to receive entries: 11.59 GMT Sunday 3 January 2027

Sign up to the monthly Explore Essex newsletter for further inspiration and competitions.

Please read this page thoroughly. If you still have a question on this competition please email: Explore.Essex@essex.gov.uk

Entries will be judged based on the below criteria, within each age category.

To include:

• Originality of idea - the story must be the child's own and unpublished at the time of submission.
• The inspiration - tell us who or what inspired your creation.
• Character and description - we're looking for interesting characters and imaginative locations.
• Storyline - think about what you want to include in your story, and how you'd like it to end.
• Use of words and language - have fun with words.

Key conditions of entry include:

• Entries must be original and in no way generated by AI.
• Parents can work with their children on their stories, but please let us know when you email the entry in how you have supported them.

The judging panel: Will include Essex County Council Cabinet Members, Essex Library Community Connectors, Essex Cultural Ambassadors and supporting council officers within the Culture, Heritage & Green Spaces Service, representing different perspectives and expertise.

The process: The panel of judges will carefully review each submission in accordance with our assessment criteria, which includes: Originality, Language, Narrative, Characters, Audience and Inspiration.

There will be one winner and three runner's up for each of the two age categories.

Timeline:

• Shortlisting will take place during January 2027.
• Winners will be announced to the public in March 2027.
• If you have been successful you will be contacted by email during February 2027.

Feedback: We anticipate a high volume of submissions, and whilst we strongly value the time it takes to put these together, we will not have the capacity to provide individual feedback. In light of this, we strongly recommend unsuccessful applicants refer to Culture Essex for creative/ funding opportunities in the future.

Copyright: Winners will retain all copyright of their writing, though they must agree to the publishing of their work on the Explore Essex website and Essex Explorer magazine, as well as the sharing of this via other partners including the Essex Libraries Service.

One overall winner for each category will receive a prize to share and enjoy across the generations.

Choose from:

• Voucher for entry to Chessington World of Adventures (x3 people) worth £112 or
• Voucher for Afternoon tea at Tiptree Tea Rooms for four worth £100 or

• £100 book tokens

• And published story!

  Story to be published in full on the Explore Essex Website.

  Whole story or extract to be published in Essex Explorer magazine.

  Winning entries to be shared by Explore Essex and Essex Library Service and other partners.

  (By entering this competition you agree to your story being shared in this way.)

Three runner ups will win:

• Goody bag of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler merchandise or
• Book Tokens worth £25

Full Terms and Conditions

1. This competition is organised by Explore Essex, part of Essex County Council (ECC), County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH.

2. By entering the competition you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions.

3. Entry is free and no purchase is necessary to enter the competition.

4. One winner for each age category and three runners up will be selected by a judging panel using the criteria on this web page, after the closing date of Sunday 23.59 GMT 3 January 2027.

5. ECC accepts no responsibility for entries not received for whatever reason. ECC will not accept:

(a) responsibility for competition entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any postal failure, equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind; or

(b) proof of posting or transmission as proof of receipt of entry to the competition.

ELIGIBILITY

6. Entrants must be UK residents and any age (parents can enter on behalf of their child).

7. Physical prizes must be collected from the closest participating Essex Country Park or Cressing Temple Barns where possible.

8. Competitions are not open to Explore Essex employees, or to any immediate family of those employees.

9. In entering the competition, entrants confirm that they are eligible to do so and eligible to claim the prize. ECC may require proof of eligibility.

10. Competition entries that are not submitted in accordance with:

• these terms and conditions; and

• the advertised competition entry procedure

will be automatically disqualified.

11. ECC will not accept competition entries that are:

(a) automatically generated by AI or computer;

(b) completed by third parties or in bulk;

(c) illegible, have been altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with;

(d) photocopies and not originals; or

(e) incomplete.

12. There is a limit of one entry to the competition per entrant.

13. ECC reserves all rights to disqualify any competition entry where:

(a) the entrant’s conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the prize competition;

(b) the entrant uses false information; or

(c) it has reasonable grounds to believe that the entrant has breached any of these terms and conditions.

14. ECC reserves the right to implement any age requirements or any other eligibility criteria where necessary.

THE PRIZE

15. There is one prize for each winner and each winner will receive a prize to the same value.

16. No cash alternative is available. ECC reserve the right to substitute the advertised prize for another of equal or greater value should the original prize become unavailable.

17. The prize is not negotiable or transferable.

CLAIMING THE PRIZE

18. Winners will be notified of their win via an email.

19. Winners must acknowledge that they have won within 7 working days of the date of the notification email.

20. If the email is not acknowledged within 7 days, the winner will be disqualified, and an alternative winner will be selected at random from the correct entries that were received.

21. ECC reserves the right to select another if the winner cannot be contacted within 7 working days or the notification email is returned as undeliverable.

22.The prize may not be claimed by a third party on winner’s behalf.

23. ECC does not accept any responsibility if the prize is not claimed within the specified time limit or the winner is not able to take up the prize.

Liability

24. Insofar as is permitted by law, ECC, its agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage , personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of ECC, its agents or distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.

Data Protection and Publicity

25. ECC will only process your personal information as set out in their privacy policy.

26. In the event that you win this competition and accept the prize, you agree to:

(a) grant ECC the right to use your name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation; and

(b) the use of any photographs or video footage to be featured on ECC’s web pages or social media sites.

27. Entrants will only be contacted regarding the specific competition they have entered.

GENERAL

28. If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions, ECC may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude any entrant from participating in the competition.

29. ECC reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, or amend the competition where it becomes necessary to do so.

30. The Promoter claims rights to publish the winning entries.

31. In the event of any dispute regarding the competition, the final decision of ECC shall be final and binding and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

32. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.